Match of the Week: Wenger's first Arsenal game

Each week, we'll be bringing you the full match of a classic game from our archive - kicking off with Arsene Wenger's first match as manager against Blackburn Rovers in 1996.

The date is October 12, 1996, and while Boyzone were about to take over as top dogs in the UK music charts, we were getting ready for our own number one to take his first steps into the dugout as Arsène Wenger's Arsenal prepared to take on Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Arsène had been officially in charge since October 1, taking over an Arsenal side that had lost just one league match all season and were second in the Premier League table.

As for Blackburn, just 18 months after reaching the summit of English football, found themselves rock bottom after selling forward Alan Shearer to Newcastle United that summer.

It was a case of more of the same from the Gunners as Arsène named an unchanged side from the one that demolished Sunderland on September 28.

As for our hosts, the big news was manager Ray Harford giving teenager James Beattie a full debut up front alongside Chris Sutton.

Would Arsene kick off his long and triumphant reign as our boss with a victory? Press play to enjoy the full match now!

STARTING LINE-UPS

Arsenal: David Seaman, Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, Steve Bould, Martin Keown, Nigel Winterburn, David Platt, Patrick Vieira, Paul Merson, Ian Wright, John Hartson. Subs: John Lukic, Steve Morrow, Andy Linighan, Ray Parlour, Paul Shaw.

Blackburn: Tim Flowers, Henning Berg, Gary Croft, Nicky Marker, Jeff Kenna, Georgios Donis, Lars Bohinen, Tim Sherwood, Jason Wilcox, James Beattie, Chris Sutton. Subs: Shay Given, Marlon Broomes, Gary Flitcroft, Stuart Ripley, Niklas Gudmundsson.